Machine for splitting cane and the like



Dec. 7, 1926 J. me

MACHINE FOR SPLITTING CANE AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 20, 1922 2 SheetsSheet l Dec. 7 1926.

J. KING MACHINE FOR SPLITTING CANE AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 20 9 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' r. QDJ

Patented Dec. 7, 1926.

STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES KING, or iaon'ron. nNe Ann MQCH'INE FOB SPLITTING. CANE. AND THE LIKE.

Application filed October 20, 1922. Serial No. 595,799.

This invention relates to machines for splitting cane, reed, or the like, and is an geous details and combinations of parts will appear from a more complete description of anembodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the top portion of the machine.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the machine.

Figure 3 is a detail elevation of a centering device.

Figure 4c is a section through the upper part ofthe machine on lines fir-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a view similar to a portion of Figure 4, but showing the position of the gripper elements relative to other elements. of the feed mechanism on the retracting stroke of the feed mechanism.

Figure 6 is a perspective of the gripper elements assembled.

Figure 7 is a plan of the cutting face of the die.

Referring to Figures 1, 2, and 4:, 1 indicates a machine base for carrying the operative mechanism of the machine. Extendingupwardly from this base is a bearing bracket 2 having journaled therein an operating shaft 3. Between thebearing portions 4 of the bracket 2 are positioned tight and loose pulleys 5 and6. One end of. the shaft 3 is journaled-in abearingblock'? madefast to one face of astandard 8 extending outwardly from the base 1. This standard 8 has pivoted thereto atits upper end on a bolt.

or'pin 9, an arm 10. Beneath the pivot po is ar 1 has pi o her n on a pin 11 an eccentric rod 12 engaging an eccentric 13 fixed; to the shaft 3. Adjacent the lower end of the standard 8, or formed integrally therewith, as may be desired, is a guide support let having spaced guide portions 15 and 16 The guide 15 has fixed thereto or integral therewith a collar 17 merginginto a bearing table 18 onwhich the reed or cane to be split may be initially positioned. After passing through the collar 17 the caneor reed passes to a feed mechanism to. be presented to a splitting die.

The feed: mechanism-1 comprises a block' 20;

reciprocable within the guides 15 and 16, This block 20 has a rectangular opening 21 axially thereof; this opening being tapered and the smaller end facing the guide 15. l/Vithin this opening 20 are slidahly mounted a plurality of'gripping elements shown detached but in assembled relation in Figure 2; Referring to this figure it will be seen that eachelement 22 comprises a pris matic block having its outer faces 23. and- 2 l tapered to fit the opening 21 each block fitting within the angle between adjacent side faces of the opening 21. The adjacent edges of the members 22 are cut away as shown at 2 5 to form a rectangular opening. of substantially uniform dimensions through the length of elements 22, this opening being for the purpose of receiving the cane or reedwhich it is desired to split.

In Figure 6 the elements 22 are shown as.

being tight together. In this condition they may-he positioned within the opening 20 at their farthest position toward its small end. These elements are normally held together and toward the smaller end of the opening by neansof a pair of coil springs 30, each spring-being fastened at one end to a' pin 31 extendingacross an opening'32in an end wall or flange 33 of the block 20. The other end of this spring engages a pin'35 passing'through the openings 36 in a pair of adjacent elements 22. springmay be passed about this pin, adjacent outer surfaces of the elements 22 are cut away to form a slot 37fthrough which the pin passes intermediate its ends. pushing-the elements22 into the larger end of the opening 21, it is evident that the opening may be expanded, permitting the cans to be inserted therein. On removal of such endwise pressure the elements 22 are closed thereupon by the action'of the sp ng The block 20, together with the element 22, is given afeed motion toward and from the die by means of the arm 10 above described. The lower end of this arm is forked to form portions 40 which pass on either side of the blocli20 between the guides 15 and 16 and In order that the til each portion s has a slot therethrough to engage over pins or bosses 12 extending outwardly from opposite sides of the block 20. Vhen the arm is swung toward the guide 16 carrying the block 20 therewith, the gripping elements 22 engage the sides of the cane or reed which is carried forward thereby. On the return stroke of the arm 10, by which the block 20 is given a reverse motion, the action of the cane on the elements 22 is such as to cause them to lag behind the block so as to be moved relative thereto toward the larger end of the opening 21 and release their grip on the cane. After the cane has been started thro iigh the die the resistance to backward movement offered by the die thereon may be sufficient to hold the cane from retractive movement, hence the feed member 20 returns to its backward limit of motion relative to the die idle, but on its forward motion it again. grips the cane and feeds it against the die. In Figure 4 is shown the position. of the parts while the cane is being fed forward, while in Figure 5 the gripping elements 22 are shown as moved toward the larger end of the opening 21 by the retractive movement of the block so that the cane is released.

The die above mentioned is carried by a support or bracket member 50. This support is provided with an opening 51 in which may be placed a guiding bushing 52. Bush ings having various sizes of interior opening may be provided corresponding with the sizes of stock to be split. The opening 51 leads at one end to an enlarged recess 58 and within this recess is shown positioned the die This die is shown in detail in Figure 7 and-comprises a substantially rectangular block 56 having a central opening 57 therethrough and surrounding this opening a plurality of perforations 58 arranged in circular series and diverging from the front face of the die. Surrounding this series of perforations is a second series of much larger perforations 59 which also diverge and to a greater extent than the perforations 58 as they recede from the front face of the die. The walls of the die between the perforations or openings 57, 58 and 59 are sharpened to form cutting edges shown at 60, 61. The cane is presented against these cutting edges 58 and 61 and by the feeding mecha nism is forced through the die, thus forming a circular series of rods conforming in cross section to the perforations 58, a central core, and segmental rim pieces, the latter being outside of the rods formed by the cutting edges 60. The die is fixed in position within the recess by some means which will permit its adjustment so as to position the cutting edges properly relative to the opening 51 and the bushing 52. As herein shown this adjustment means comprises a plurality of adjusting screws 65 angularly arranged relative to each other in the support and bearing at their inner ends against the outer edge of the die. In the form shown where the die is square, four of these screws are shown which bear against opposite edges of the die. F or fixing these screws in position lock nuts as 66 may be employed.

As the strands of material issuing from the die after being out are directed in di verging relation, it is desirable to return them toward contact condition so that they may be grasped as they emerge from the machine, it being found possible to utilize all the portions which are cut by the die. For this purpose a nozzle or guide 70 has been provided having a tapered bore 700. The larger end of this nozzle is positioned against the rear face of the support 50 so that its inner converging walls bring the severed portions of the cane or reed together and present them in close formation where they may be readily grasped as they emerge from the nozzle.

The inechanisn'i just described is particularly adapted for reed in which the diameter of the material is substantially constant. Where a material such as cane is being worked upon, the joints of the cane offer sudden increases in diameter to the stock as it is being fed. For the purpose of taking care of these joints a guide shown detached in Figure 3 may be employed. This guide comprises a support or plate 7 0 perforated for the passage of the cane and carrying the guiding elements thereon, the plate together with these elements being interposed between the feed mechanism guide 16 and the die support 50. For this purpose the die support 50 is moved away from the guide 16 sub'itantially into the dotted line position shown in Figure 1. The plate 70 carries on one face a pair of sliding guides 71 to receive guide pins 72 extending in opposite directions and in alinement with each other in a pair of guiding elements 73 and 74. On opposed faces these elements are recessed as shown. at 7 5 to conform to the contour of the cane and if desired the edges of these recesses may be formed sufficiently sharp so as to remove the projecting portions of the joints as the cane is fed therethrough.

In order that the members 7 3 and 74: may properly center the cane regardless of its exact diameter each of these elements is provided with a pair of oppositely disposed ears 76 and 77 Pivoted to the plate 70 between these ears on screws 78 are a pair of levers 79 and 80. The outer end of each of these levers is connected by links 81 pivoted to the ears 77 of the member 74 while the inner ends of these levers are pivoted by links 82 to the ears 7 6. The lever 7 9 has fixed thereto or formed integral therewith an arm 83 and the lever has an arm 84, these arms extending one above the other at one side of the plate 7 O. The lower arm 8& is shown as provided with an eyebolt 85 to which is attached one end of a cable 86. This cable passes over a guide pulley 87 of the arm 83 and has fixed to its opposite ends a weight 88. By this means the adjacent ends of these arms are yieldingly urged toward each other tending to rock the levers 7 9 and 80 about their pivots '78 in a direction to cause the links 81 and 82 to urge the members 73 and 74 toward each other togrip the cane. Should an enlarged portion of the cane be encountered these members are permitted to separate slightly, their connections insuring the same amount of movement to each of the members so that the axis of the stock being fed remains properly alined with the die no matter What size of stock is being fed. If

the edges 73 and 74 are sharp projecting joints or other protuberances will be cut ofif as the cane passes therethrough, the members yielding only for the more gradual size changes.

Having thus described certain embodiments of this invention it should be evident to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications might be made therein without departing from its spirit or scope as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the class described, work gripping mechanism comprising a member having a tapered rectangular opening axially therethrough, four cooperating clamping elements each element fitting within a corner of said opening and correspondingly tapered on its faces mating therewith, the adjacent edges of said elements being cut away to form a central rectangular opening, grooves in the outer faces of said elements in mating relation, pins extending laterally of certain of said grooves and connecting adjacent elements, and springs reacting between said pins and said member for urging said elements toward the smaller end of said tapered opening to contract them against work lying in the opening between said elements.

2. In a machine of the class described, work gripping mechanism comprising a member having a tapered rectangular openingaxially therethrough, four cooperating clamping elements each element fitting within a corner of said opening and correspondingly tapered on its faces mating therewith, the adjacent edges of said elements being cut away to form a central rectangular opening of uniform dimensions from end to end, grooves in the outer faces of said elements in mating relation, pins extending laterally of certain of said grooves and connecting adjacent elements, and springs reacting between said pins and said member for urging said elements toward the smaller end of said tapered opening to contract them against work lying in the opening between said elements.

3. In a machine of the class described a centering guide comprising a support, a pair of members slidable toward and from each other, a pair of levers pivoted to said support, links connecting opposite ends of said levers to said members, actuating arms extending in the same direction from each of said levers to bring the free ends of said arms adjacent to each other, a cord fixed at one end to one of said arms and passing over a guide on the other of said arms, and a weight supported at the other end of said cord.

I In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

JAMES KING. 

